HIGH SCHOOL AT POLISH SATURDAY SCHOOL
Course description
POLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE IN GRADES 10^th THROUGH 12^th
This course teaches students about main Polish and world literary works characteristics to each particular literary period – from antiquity to modern times. It exposes students to selected literary works in connection with human life, history and culture of the Polish nation, as well as the tradition of Polish national and popular culture and selected issues related to the structure, history and culture of Polish language. In additions, skills are developed for written and oral communication, study of literary works (including theater and arts) and poetry. Oral presentations, discussions, essays, short narratives and interviews are an integral part of this course. This course also teaches students to approach writing creatively and clearly, according to various purposes and audiences. Students are writing numerous forms including narratives, descriptions, and literary response.
The required reading list includes:
10^th grade:
William Szekspir, Makbet (William Shakespeare, Macbeth)
Zofia Nałkowska, Granica
Stefan Żeromski, Ludzie bezdomni
Albert Camus, Dżuma (Albert Camus, The Plague)
Sławomir Mrożek, Tango
11^th grade:
Zygmunt Krasiński, Nie-Boska komedia
Adam Mickiewicz, Dziady, cz. III
Stanisław Wyspiański, Wesele
Michał Bułhakow, Mistrz i Małgorzata (Mikhail Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita)
Gustaw Herling–Grudziński, Inny świat
12 grade:
Adam Mickiewicz, Pan Tadeusz
Bolesław Prus, Lalka
Fiodor Dostojewski, Zbrodnia i kara (Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment)
Władysław Stanisław Reymont, Ziemia obiecana
Franz Kafka, Proces  (Franz Kafka, Trial)
HISTORY IN GRADES 10^th THROUGH 12^th
This course covers history of the World and Poland from the Ancient Times to the Present Day. Within a historical framework the course utilizes a thematic approach, which includes a study of the fields of governments of Poland and other countries, political events, wars, treaties, social and economic transformations, development of art, literature and science. Although the stress is on history of Poland students are getting a wide background of all historical events of the world, including French Revolution, origin of the Unites States of America and other world significant historic events.
The twentieth century events, including the origin of World Wars I and II, re-gaining independence of Poland in 1918, Nazi’s and Soviet occupation of Poland, Cold War, Solidarity movement and achieving a fully democratic government and a market economy after elections in 1989 are the main educational subjects in 12^th grade. Skills thought in this course include document analysis, historical essay writing, and basic historiography.
LIVING IN THE SOCIETY IN 10^th GRADE
This course covers social and government issues. It deals with comparative politics and important grounding in citizenship that helps prepare students for the historical, political, economic, geographical, and moral aspects of democracy. Fundamental concepts and vocabulary are included in the study of each nation’s political culture, political institutions, and political history, with a revision of the various solutions proposed for political problems. The study of international organizations such as UN and/or EU is also included. Social studies are including studying the record of human behavior with regard to how people have attempted to solve difficulties in their daily life.
GEOGRAPHY IN 11^th GRADE
The course includes topics on world physical, economic and population geography with several detailed examples from Poland. Students are learning about inter-relations between environmental elements and the features and diversity of world’s and Polish landscapes. This part of the geography course includes several topics related to landscape ecology.
Next, students are learning about the current state of three main sectors of world economy: agriculture, industry, and services. The diversity and current state of development of these sectors around the world with examples from Poland are discussed. Through the homework assignments students are preparing information about economic situation in selected countries in the form of essays, spatial data analysis and proper cartographic presentations.
Last topic includes environmental protection and state and efficiency of current legislation in the world and Poland.
MATHEMATICS IN GRADES 10^th THROUGH 12^th
This course is starting with advanced algebra and geometry in 10^th grade and progressively includes trigonometry, real and complex numbers, polynomials, radicals, and exponents. Matrices are presented and used for solving systems of equations in two or three variables. Topics will include also different types functions, transformation, analytical geometry, exponential equations, logarithms, and probability. Circular functions, vector geometry, elements of statistics and calculus (like derivatives and differential equations) are the elements of the course in the 12^th grade.